egyptologifs:Taharqo’s Shabtis, 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period)Shabtis were symbolic figuri
egyptologifs:Taharqo’s Shabtis, 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period)Shabtis were symbolic figurines placed in burials—and the Ancient Egyptians believed that they would step in for the deceased in the afterlife, completing all manual labor. They varied in size and composition, but were all generally expected to fulfill the same function. Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead refers to these pieces:O shabti, if the deceased is called upon to do any of the work required there in the necropolis at any time…you shall say, ‘Here I am. I will do it.”Oftentimes, archaeologists find approximately 360-365 shabtis in a single rich burial—and Egyptologists believe this signifies one shabti was assigned to labor one day of the year. However, King Taharqo, a Kushite pharaoh, was buried with a staggering number of 1,070 shabtis (some of which are pictured above) in the Nûri necropolis; each made of materials from various regions throughout Egypt and Nubia. This is an extreme outlier…but luckily for Taharqo, it doesn’t look like he has any work to worry about in the afterlife! -- source link